I don't know how to judge it. The equipment has changed, and that allowed the style to change.
Court won the most, but she was playing amateur events.
Graf won a lot, but Seles was dominating the slam results when a Graf fan stabbed her.

It's impossible to judge, but I'm confident the best players now, with this equipment, are playing the highest level tennis.

The amateur events Court played had all the top female players in competition, as there was no women^s pro tour. The only difference in the female competition after 1968 was that the players were allowed to get money for winning. Therefore, all the tournaments Court and King won before 1968 should be included in their carrer accomplishments. Court, overall, won over 180 singles titles, BJK won 104. Also, in Courts day, the top players played doubles. In Navratilova^s day, few top players participated in doubles competition.

Nov 22nd, 2007 03:15 PM

azinna

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

Steffi. Not just because of her achievements and career stats, but also because of her versatility: her ability to start and keep winning big matches on all 4 surfaces and against the best of at least 3 generations.

When you add doubles into the equation, Navratilova gets the nod. But the 1990s were the beginnings of singles/doubles specialization, where the best in singles began to rightly feel tennis had become too demanding physically and mentally to risk fatigue/injury by playing late at night on your rest days in slams. By all means, give BJK, Martina, McEnroe, etc for their props in doubles. But the realities are that Steffi, Sampras, Agassi, Venus, Serena, Justine and Federer will for decades be assessed and compared largely on their singles achievements.

The only said that because she the one that got it popular. Most people know she is the reason Wimbledon need a bigger stadium because so many people want to see her. If it was not for her people like BJ King would never of did what they did for the sport. To me she was the first women to make a huge impact on the sport. Also she is the one the brought that drama to the sport. Read about her, she is a great woman.

I have read about her. And what you say is true. But it doesn't relate whatsoever to making the game what it is today. Saying BJK would never have done what she did if not for Suzanne is pure conjecture.

Nov 22nd, 2007 01:55 PM

Marc23

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

For me Graf!

Nov 22nd, 2007 01:53 PM

goldenlox

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

I don't know how to judge it. The equipment has changed, and that allowed the style to change.
Court won the most, but she was playing amateur events.
Graf won a lot, but Seles was dominating the slam results when a Graf fan stabbed her.

It's impossible to judge, but I'm confident the best players now, with this equipment, are playing the highest level tennis.

Nov 22nd, 2007 01:49 PM

Anabelcroft

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

steffi graf-singles navratilova-doubles

Nov 22nd, 2007 01:30 AM

mckyle.

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

my favorite. duh.

Nov 22nd, 2007 01:28 AM

OZTENNIS

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

Wow...Steffi leads Martina by 12 now...Chris Evert is starting to get a few votes too...

The only way this could possibly make sense is it you're talking about doubles, but Steffi didn't play very much doubles, so it's a dumb comparison.

And I'm no expert, but 22 isn't "barely half" of 18.

Yes of course I am talking about doubles. It's not a dumb comparison; nothing stopped Steffi from playing doubles. Navratilova was physically and mentally able to do both, and she had the game to. Steffi could win on the doubles court but she didn't play enough of it and well that counts against her now.

Nov 21st, 2007 11:36 PM

OsloErik

Re: ULTIMATE QUESTION: Who is the Greatest Player of ALL Time!!

If we're talking singles, I'd say the greatest would be Graf, Evert, Court, Navratilova in that order. If we're talking overall, it goes Navratilova, Court, Graf, Evert/BJK. I'll vote for Navratilova because she's the highest combined on that list.